The 2026 Renewi Tour will be taking place from the 19th to the 23rd of August. With the final third of the season underway, many classics specialists find in this race one of their top goals. The five-day race provides cobbled stages, hilly days and also tricky bunch sprints to tackle in Belgium.
The race has had many names attached to it over the years, and currently it is sponsored by Renewi. 2005 was its first edition and immediately it was won by American Bobby Julich. The race right from its first year had a major international reputation, and that never slowed down.
The list of winners includes major time trial specialists such as Tony Martin and Tom Dumoulin; cyclocross-classics specialists such as Lars Boom, Zdenek Stybar and of course Mathieu van der Poel; Other classics specialists like Niki Terpstra, Matej Mohoric and Sonny Colbrelli, and even a climber in Laurens de Plus.
The route varies over the years and favours different types of riders. Tim Wellens is the record holder with three overall wins whilst in 2025 Arnaud de Lie conquered the overall classification after a formidable battle with Mathieu van der Poel.
| Stage | Date | Start Town | Finish Town | Distance (km) | Stage Type |
| 1 | 19 Aug 2026 | Diest | Diest | 191 | Cobbled/Hilly |
| 2 | 20 Aug 2026 | Blankenberge | Ardooie | 174 | Flat |
| 3 | 21 Aug 2026 | Celles | Geraardsbergen | 181 | Cobbled/Hilly |
| 4 | 22 Aug 2026 | Riemst | Bilzen | 187 | Flat |
| 5 | 23 Aug 2026 | Leuven | Leuven | 183 | Hilly |
Profile stage 1: Diest - Diest
Diest - Diest, 191 kilometers
The race begins in Diest and the opening stage will both start and finish in the Belgian city. It will immediately be an explosive stage, where a few riders may look to get ahead in the fight for the overall classification.
The stage features two cobbled ascents which will be tackled twice; and then a final circuit that will have four laps and a small climb of 400 meters at 5.5% - with a golden kilometer placed 21 kilometers from the finish.
A stage that is likely to finish in a sprint once again in Diest, however not something that can be said with certainty with quite a few obstacles in the day.
Profile stage 2: Blankenberge - Ardooie
Blankeberge - Ardooie, 174 kilometers
Stage 2 takes place in the Flandrien flatlands. The region often has very strong wind and exposed roads, making a seemingly innocent sprint stage one that can be very dangerous, and crucial for the overall classifications.
The riders do not tackle a single climb throughout the day, and have a golden kilometer with 20 to go. But after the start in Blankenberge, it is still inevitable that a bunch sprint will decide things in Ardooie.
Profile stage 3: Celles - Geraardsbergen
Celles - Geraardsbergen, 181 kilometers
The queen stage is one that is familiar to the riders that participate in the spring classics. The peloton takes on the 'Geraardsbergen stage' on the third day of racing, likely the most important of the week.
Climbs such as the Knokteberg, the Paterberg, Oude Kruisberg and Berg ten Houte are all climbed early in the day, before the riders move on to the circuit that will decide the stage.
The riders climb the full Denderoordberg (700 meters at 7%); Muur de Geraardsbergen (1.2Km; 7.1%) and Bosberg (1.4Km at 4.6%) on two separate occasions. Each time, the steep 'Muur' packs the chance to blow the race to bits in its narrow road and extremely steep sections.
The riders then on one more occasion go up the Denderoordberg with a mere 5 kilometers to go, before finishing in the center of Geraardsbergen with an iconic cobbled uphill sprint.
Profile stage 4: Riemst - Bilzen
Riemst - Bilzen, 187 kilometers
The fourth stage of the race is a rugged one, going through the traditionally explosive Belgian terrain that favours the classics specialists. With the overall classification at play, such a stage could detonate.
There are plenty small climbs throughout the day in what is essentially a circuit stage. They are all short, and not overly explosive, but the roads will feature a constant up and down.
With only 7.5 kilometers to go there is a small hilltop that can be used for late attacks, whilst the golden kilometer is 25 kilometers away from the finish. In Bilzen, the sprint also packs a small uphill gradient.
Stage 5: Leuven - Leuven
Leuven - Leuven, 183 kilometers
The race ends in Leuven with the same circuit that saw last year's dramatic finale. The city hosted the 2021 World Championships and the circuit is designed for explosive racing.
In the roads of Leuven, putting on an organized chase is very hard. The stage is 183 kilometers long and the final 50 will be inside the city, with its three-ascent design featuring plenty opportunities for attacks.
The climbs are interesting, but the technical aspect of the circuit makes it specially attractive for attacks - including long-range ones. Tactical racing is assured, whilst a bunch sprint of some sorts also can't be ruled out.
List of winners Renewi Tour
| Year | Winner | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
| 2025 | Arnaud De Lie | Mathieu van der Poel | Tim Wellens |
| 2024 | Tim Wellens | Alec Segaert | Per Strand Hagenes |
| 2023 | Tim Wellens | Florian Vermeersch | Yves Lampaert |
| 2022 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | Sonny Colbrelli | Matej Mohorič | Victor Campenaerts |
| 2020 | Mathieu van der Poel | Tim Wellens | Nils Eekhoff |
| 2019 | Laurens De Plus | Oliver Naesen | Tim Wellens |
| 2018 | Matej Mohorič | Michael Matthews | Tim Wellens |
| 2017 | Tom Dumoulin | Tim Wellens | Sacha Modolo |
| 2016 | Niki Terpstra | Oliver Naesen | Peter Sagan |
| 2015 | Tim Wellens | Greg Van Avermaet | Tiesj Benoot |
| 2014 | Tim Wellens | Lars Boom | Tom Dumoulin |
| 2013 | Zdeněk Štybar | Tom Dumoulin | Andriy Grivko |
| 2012 | Lars Boom | Sylvain Chavanel | Niki Terpstra |
| 2011 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Philippe Gilbert | David Millar |
| 2010 | Tony Martin | Koos Moerenhout | Edvald Boasson Hagen |
| 2009 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sylvain Chavanel | Sebastian Langeveld |
| 2008 | José Iván Gutiérrez | Sébastien Rosseler | Michael Rogers |
| 2007 | José Iván Gutiérrez | David Millar | Gustav Larsson |
| 2006 | Stefan Schumacher | George Hincapie | Vincenzo Nibali |
| 2005 | Bobby Julich | Erik Dekker | Leif Hoste |
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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